Warm compared to New York - 12/14/2006

I love the weather especially in the spring and fall

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Knoxville Pros and Cons (cont.) - 12/12/2006

My earlier post cut off the two most important "cons" on my list. At least, they are "cons" in my book. Others might find them good points, which is good, I suppose, since it would be a boring world if we all had the same opinion! Cons (cont.) 6) VERY, VERY Religious. If you do not belong to a church of some kind, you will be very out of place in Knoxville. Religion, in general and Christianity (in particular) are very much in your face here. 7) Knoxville is extremely "clique-y." If you are not from Knoxville, you will find it hard to make friends (in the vast majority of cases). It's not impossible, but it is very difficult.

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Knoxville Pros and Cons - 12/12/2006

Hello all - I'm an East Tennessee native, and I've lived with my wife in Knoxville for the past 5 1/2 years. We're looking to move away after I finish a master's degree at the University of Tennessee. Although Knoxville is not the place for us, I won't just insult it and list all the negatives. I'll offer pros and cons. Obviously, the cons have come to outweigh the pros for us, but that does not mean that everyone will see it that way. Pros: 1) Proximity of Great Smoky Mountains -- I grew up just outside the national park, and I still love the mountains more than anything else in this area., 2) Market Square -- This area is really improving and increasingly has lots to do., 3) Old City -- This area is the first renovated "night life" area in Knoxville, and it is still going strong., 4) University of Tennessee (for the cultural events it brings into the community, 5) Inexpensive housing (for now), 6) Renewed interest in downtown -- downtown renovation has improved a great deal in the past 5 years. Living downtown, however, is extremely expensive compared to the rest of the city. Cons: 1) Sprawl - the city seems to have absolutely no plan to combat this problem, and it gets worse every year, 2) public transportation - the KAT bus system has deteriorated in the last 5 years, cutting its routes and shortening its times of operation, 3)located in the State of Tennessee - Tennessee, in general, has abysmal school systems and health care, while being "no. 1" in interstate highway building. The priorities of this state are truly screwed up. People might think that "no income tax" is a great thing, but they need to think about the consequences of that policy. Spending on public goods, such as libraries, state parks, schools, universities, health care, etc. is extremely low, and it shows. The sales tax is ludicrously high, meanwhile, and it impacts the ability of lower-income families to make ends meet., 4) The University of Tennessee -- While the University is also a pro (see above), the mania for the football team means that this town has very little else going on for about a third of the year, and the local economy is way too dependent on the Vols. Locals are also obssessed with the team to the point of craziness. If you are not a football fan (and particularly a Vols fan), this will be very frustrating for you. I grew up cheering on the Vols, but even I see how ridiculous the whole thing has become., 5) VERY heavily Republican area (which I re

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Greg must be one of those peace loving, compassion - 12/11/2006

Greg says that Knoxville, "with 62% Retardicans.........how good a place could it be to live????? Bushies, righties, conservatives are not a political ideology - but a mental disorder!!!!!!!!!! Support of Bush is tantamount to committing treason against the U.S. of A.!!!!!!!!!!" Greg, that is a horrible, mean-spirited thing to say. Remember, people are usually just a reflection of our own attitudes. Show kindness and respect to others and we will usually get the same response in return. But if we walk around with a chip on our shoulder, hating people because of their political views, we are not going to be very happy, fulfilled, productive people. We have been to Knoxville on several occasions and always found it to be very pleasant. As far as the people and weather are concerned, we enjoyed both. And, no, we are not native to the region, but we would not rule out a possible move to the area in the future..........all the best.....Glenn & Mimi

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Hate California? Move to Knoxville! - 11/24/2006

I made the mistake of moving to Northern California 10 years ago and regreted every minute of it. Now that I'm living in Knoxville, the people are much friendlier and laid back. The cost of living is so much cheaper that $200,000 will buy you a beautiful lakefront mansion (and in California would cost close to $2,000,000). The traffic isn't always great at rush hour because of recent freeway construction downtown but the drivers are much more courteous than on California freeways. I chose to buy a cabin south of Knoxville in the mountains with lots of acreage near the Smoky Mountains. Move here now and discover how great East Tennessee is!

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Hateful mean people and smog - 11/19/2006

We lived there about two years and I feel very disappointed about the entire experience. I'm a college graduate and my wife is an administrative professional and we could not find jobs. My wife did eventually find a job. The pay was good for her but the people were so bad that she could barely take going in every day. The locals do not like outsiders! That is unfortunetly the culture in the area. Be as mean and hateful as you can so people think you are smart. They really do think that. Not very smart people. I have lived in alot of places including NY and never have I seen such anger and hostility as in the Knoxville area. When living in the area you have to adjust to not seeing the sun forever! The smog is so bad even on a sunny day you really don't see the sun. First time ever dealing with pollution of that magnitude, it really bothered me physically. I left there having severe breathing problems and I'm only 30 years old. I would say those are the two most important aspects of the knoxville area that one would have to consider when moving there. I actually feel sorry for the people that live there, it's horrible! We finally left after almost two years to live in Roanoke, VA. WE LOVE IT HERE! The people are so friendly and you can see the sky crystal clear! Roanoke is so great we hope nobody else finds it :)

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Knoxville and Californians - 10/22/2006

Hello. I have been interested in moving to Knoxville for some time now, as I have heard good things about it. I grew up in California and am in my fourth year of dental school. I believe Knoxville to be a great place for me to practice and raise a family, but I wonder how receptive the people there are to those of us from the West Coast/California. How are Californians perceived and should I consider moving to Knoxville? Thanks

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Knoxville is Comfortable - 7/22/2006

A nice place to live with a lot greenery and affordable cost of living. The people are openly friendly although not as open-minded as other parts of the country (Knoxville is in the heart of the Bible belt). A good place to raise a family. Recreation includes biking, hiking and boating.

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Moved to Knoxville 14 years ago- love living here - 7/9/2006

We moved from CT 14 years ago and love living in the Knoxville area. We raised our 4 kids here. The low cost of living and great climate are hard to beat. We now live 20 miles outside the city in Tellico Village, where you can still afford waterfront living. We never found ourselves as outsider- as Yankees. Most people in the Farragut area especially are not from Tennessee. Oak Ridge demands a highly educated workforce. There are great medical services, though we did choose to send our kids to private school, we found very few negatives.

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As a Pakistani American Can I live in Knoxville, T - 6/29/2006

Just wanted to know if me a Paki American can live in TN, is it Racist there I live in Rochester,NY planning in Moving to TN how is it there please post your sincere comments

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Why a Floridian moved to Tennessee!!!! - 6/24/2006

I must start by stating that the following posting is well thought out, carefully researched, based on facts and guided by the most genuine and sincerest of intentions. My name is Joey. I was born in New Jersey and raised in South Florida. Last year, after Hurricane Katrina, I sold my condo on Hollywood Beach, Florida. I pursued a spiritual quest and hit the road for 60 days in search of a place where I could enjoy a higher quality of life, for a fraction of the cost in over-inflated South Florida. I journeyed 12 states through the South and narrowed my choice down to, what I believe, is the best kept REAL ESTATE secret on earth. God led me to a beautiful suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee. Not many people know about the exact geographic location of this spot, however, I do because I discovered it on my own and through the act of a miracle!!! Our location is IDEAL. We are located mid-way between Greater Knoxville and the Smokies. Our central location puts us within 1 days driving distance of 70% of the U.S. population. We are graced by amazing growth and current projections indicate that our community will be completely sold-out within the next five years. Development is rampant and there is sustainable and “realistic” growth here. There are Floridians, New Yorkers, people from Michigan and even Californians moving here. Over-inflated real estate markets, such as San Diego, Boston, New York and Miami, have capped out and are on the verge of “bubbling” and self-correction. Greed is catching up to people and God is responding by putting our country under a moral “checks and balances”. Naturally, SMART people are making the unselfish choice of cashing out on their equity and opting instead for rural, less-congested and more affordable markets to live “MORTGAGE FREE” for the rest of their lives. Life is not all about pride and money folks!!!!! People cite many reasons for this shift, including a fear of hurricanes, unaffordable housing, crime, traffic, air pollution, better educational systems, the rising cost of home insurance and taxes and the list goes on and on. Even BABY BOOMERS are opting for this area. This segment of our population is some 77 million strong and my own personal research reveals that many of them are afraid of spending their golden years in Florida having to face the threat of a Hurricane evacuation. I’m not judging because it is not what I was put on earth to do. I am simply sharing my knowledge to help others who are

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knoxville - 6/21/2006

best place to live in america

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Jacksonville - 6/3/2006

Hate it not friendly too hot want out

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Knoxville Recreation - 6/1/2006

There are many mountains, lakes, rivers and streams to enjoy in East Tennessee. While there are a couple of cold months (January and February) the rest of the year is awesome!

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Knoxville - Quality of Life - 6/1/2006

Great medium sized city with outdoor activities, no income tax, excellent schools, good business climate.

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HUMID IN SPRING AND SUMMER - 5/25/2006

KNOXVILLE IS A LITTLE TOO HOT AND HUMID DURING SPRING AND SUMMER

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Knoxville has a lot to offer - 5/25/2006

Knoxville has a lot to offer. I lived here for 35 years and here are some of the things I enjoy.... Indoor activities: There are many opportunities to enjoy performing and fine arts. The Clearance Brown Theater, Tennessee Theater, Bijou Theater, Black Box Theater, and Carosel Theater offer some of the best in performing arts. Additionally, we have a comedy club that attracts some of the best in class performers. As well, we have a local improv comedy troupe that is one of the best. The University of Tennessee music departement, Pellissippi State Community College, and Knoxville Symphony Ochestra offer a constant variety of muscial arts. We also have many opportunites to learn and enjoy swing dance, ball room dance and even belly dancing! Another fun activity is called Sun Down in the City. For this event, there is a free concert every Thursday at an outdoor theater. Knoxville also has several book clubs with readings at various bookstores in the area. There are also civic and support groups if you are looking for that type of social outlet. Univeristy of Tennessee (and many of the community colleges) has many non-credit enrichment courses that allow you to try your hand at a new skill like stained glass, welding, cooking, etc. Like all cities, there are ample opportunities for volunteer work, health and fitness clubs, shopping, movies, and dining out. The children's museum in Oak Ridge (15 -25 minutes from downtown Knoxville) is one of the best I've been in and don't forget the kids' discovery center in Knoxville. We also have a rock climbing gym (the climbing center) which is great family fun and exercise. There is a downside: Knoxville doesn't have any nightclubs. Sure there are bars and places that think they are nightclubs but when compared to Atlanta these places don't come close. Good thing Atlanta is only 3 hours away! Actually, I don't really like the smokey, too loud to talk, everyone drunk scenes myself but if you are into that there isn't much opportunity in Knoxville. However, Knoxville has 5 stripper/naked women establishments...if you enjoy that kind of thing. Outdoor activities! I LOVE this place because there is SO much to do outside and we have about 3/4 year to enjoy being outside. There is sky diving through Sky Dive Smokey Mountain group. Learn how to kayak with East Tennessee Whitewater Club afterward you will never be without someone to go kayaking with on weekends. There is also CHOTA for canoe and kayaking opportunities. Ot

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Knoxville Has a Lot to Offer - 5/23/2006

Knoxville has a lot to offer anyone who loves outdoor sports, beautiful surroundings, nice people, low cost of living and a great quality of life. Knoxville truly is a special place and most people will tell you that. There are a variety of things to do and many wonderful places to eat and shop. The schools and neighborhoods are wonderful.

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Southern Hosptality does not exist here - 3/10/2006

If your not from the south their are people who will still consider you a Yankee. They still hate minorities and are less tackful with discrimination. They make comments about your accent as if theirs is the proper english language. You still have to be very precautious with area's you travel to as a minority like sevierville. For the most part its a very pretty place to visit with the moutains, Gatlingburg, and Pidgeon Forge. I just could not live there anymore. There is not much for kids to do and in a lot of area's they never come outside to play. Most kids have a full week of after school activities. Mostly sports through the parks. You have to leave Knoxville to find something fun to do. Celebration Station and Chuck E Cheese gets old. So does, just hanging at the park biking, swimming, fishing, and picnicing. I found that these things are fine for people who have been there all their lives. More of the younger generation are starting to get bored living there. The ones who can't find anything positive to do with their living situation tend to start illegal activities and fail to see the bigger side of the picture. Move away or turn a negative into a positive by applying a goal.

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KNoxville Things to do - 3/1/2006

You must see a show at the Tennessee Theater

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